Research that is expected to provide insight for speed-of-light, free-space communications occurring between aircraft, aircraft-to-ground, aircraft-to-aircraft and aircraft-to-satellites will continue forward as officials from Notre Dame’s Center for Flow Physics/Controls Aero-Optics and Riley Aviation signed a renewal agreement last week.

“We are progressing nicely toward actual flight operations later this year,” said Airborne Aero-Optics’ manager Michael Zenk. “Computer simulations of the entire system have been completed and have produced good results.”

Riley Aviation has been granted FAA certification to operate as an air ambulance service.

Based at Kirsh Municipal Airport in Sturgis, Michigan, the company will serve as a fixed-wing, air ambulance designed to transport medical patients to and from the United States, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean.